Fresh back in LA from an amazing trip with the fam, I have so many places and stories to share that I don't even know where to start!!
So I'll begin the year with a practical post: more of a reminder to myself - a place I will need to frequent as what's left of my bank account recovers from our 2 week vacation.
SushiStop is a place that serves every food item on the menu for $2.75. Yes, it's true. It's part of that hopping complex on Sawtelle Blvd packed with ever buzz worthy concentrations of fantastic small business restaurants - the same one that houses Tsujita, Nongla and Seoul Sausage.
There has been so much attention recently on the exciting expansions of more diverse offerings from Korean (Seoul, Seoul Sausage) to Vietnamese (Nongla) to Chinese (ROC Dumpling House) to American (Plan Check) where Sawtelle north of Olympic had been for the most part focused on Japanese before 2012 - but Sushi Stop is a noteworthy pre-expansion spot for those who live/work in the area and looking for an affordable lunch/dinner option without Tsujita-length waits.
How do they control for more expensive ingredients vs less expensive ones with this fixed price system? By varying the number of pieces you get per order - so for example, an order of Salmon Sushi consists of 2 pieces, while the Uni (yes they have this too for $2.75!!) will only feature a single piece.
On a filling visit a few months back (I am seriously behind on posts!), Mims and I got:
Tofu Seaweed Udon - not a big fan of udon in general, but this is a nice option on a cold day. They also have mini-bowls with tempura udon.
Uni (Sea Urchin) / Ikura (Salmon Roe) with Quail Egg (!!!)
Salmon Belly flame seared salmon belly with caviar and ponzu and White Tuna flame seared albacore tuna with yuzu kosho and 'hint of truffle oil'
Salmon, Tuna and Scallop
Baked Green Mussels 4 pieces in 1 order - lots of mayo and cheese, which I usually don't like with seafood in the shell, but these were delicious (especially for the price :P)
And something I can't remember the name of now, but was a special.
SushiStop is not a trailblazing, mind-blowing high concept destination dining kind of place, but a cozy, neighborhood spot that offers decent, not all run-of-the-mill sushi for an affordable price (so manage your expectations accordingly).
Seating is counter only, first come first served - if you arrive before or right at noon usually you should have no problem securing a seat as long as you don't have a huge group.
Also, they keep costs low by only accepting cash for payment, so be sure to bring some or you'll have to run to the ATM or try to get cash back at Nijiya market closeby.
Glad to have this life saver close to work - will be seeing you again soon, SushiStop!
On a 7 point scale:
Flavor - 5 bites
Presentation - 5.5 bites
Originality - 5.5 bites
Ambience - 4.5 stars
Service - 5 stars
Overall experience - 5 bites
Price - $ (1 bite mark)
Probability of return visit - 100%
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SushiStop
(West LA location - check website for others in LA)
2053 Sawtelle Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90025
Ph: 310.473.3999
Parking: Free valet on Mississippi
Website: sushistopusa.com
***Cash only***
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